Help

Newsletter

Posted March 13, 2010 12:00 am - Updated March 14, 2010 02:31 pm

Poll on Tim Tebow puts Jaguars GM in awkward spot

A teleconference fan forum conducted by the Jaguars on Tuesday, a good idea designed to engage season-ticket holders and encourage them to renew, turned into an embarrassment when word got out that a poll revealed participants were against drafting Tim Tebow by a 55-45 percent margin.

It was an innocent question aimed at entertaining the fans, but the fallout was harsh. Some ESPN on-air talent mistakenly assumed that general manager Gene Smith, who participated in the fan forum, had something to do with initiating the Tebow poll. Anybody with an understanding of how an NFL front office works would know that is an absurd notion.

Smith and major Jaguars decision-makers had no idea the Tebow question, where fans gave a touch-tone response by phone, would be part of the forum. A marketing guy came up with the question, not realizing that singling out Tebow's draft status for a response would create a negative impression of the organization. It was completely unfair to the Florida quarterback, a player whom Smith personally admires, and that message has been delivered.

As one Jaguars' insider told me: "I don't think there's a person in this building that isn't embarrassed by [the Tebow poll question]."

The forum helped season-ticket renewals, which are at 42 percent. That's a good thing. But there's no need to ask fans whether the Jaguars should draft Tebow. Smith and his scouts are being well paid to form their own conclusions. ...

Here's my response to anyone skeptical of the Jaguars' signing free agent Aaron Kampman, who is recovering from a torn anterior cruiciate ligament, to a guaranteed contract of $11 million: The pass rush was too abysmal to not take the risk. When healthy and in a 4-3 scheme with the Green Bay Packers, Kampman averaged about 10 sacks per year. Isn't this investment better than shelling out $18 million up front for Derrick Harvey as an unproven rookie? If the directive to coach Jack Del Rio is make the playoffs next season, then acquiring Kampman was a necessary tool to give him a reasonable shot. ...

I commend David Garrard for accepting the honest assessments of Del Rio and owner Wayne Weaver about his play last season. But if he thinks Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is going to give preparation tips to a quarterback in his own division, then the avid fisherman is on a fishing expedition. ...

Quarterback Michael Vick being voted the Ed Block courage award winner by the Philadelphia Eagles makes about as much sense as Jon Gosselin giving marital advice to Tiger Woods. ...

Michigan's basketball team got what it deserved Friday when Ohio State's Evan Turner hit a game-winning, 37-foot shot at the buzzer. Rule of thumb: When time is limited and a team must drive the length of the floor, always put a defender on the inbound pass and never let someone catch the pass running toward the basket.